Everything you need to know from ASHG25
and you didn't have time to read until now (TLDR)
Highlights
PacBio (Pacific Biosciences) - $300 genome via chemistry update
New chemistry: SPRQ-Nx. The chemistry targets long-read whole genomes for <$300 at scale, with a beta program in Nov 2025 and ~$300/genome beta bundle pricing (384 human genomes at 20x coverage). PacBio also flagged 5hmC detection support and features aimed at 21 CFR Part 11 workflows (Vega), plus long-term support for Revio/Vega through 2032. PacBio
How costs drop: multi-use SMRT Cells (multiple runs per SMRT Cell while maintaining output) are the lever PacBio cites for the <$300 target. PacBio
Ultima Genomics
Cost-focused WGS & single-cell sessions: Ultima’s ASHG program emphasized AI, single-cell, and low-cost WGS on the UG100 platform, including an industry education session (Oct 16) and talks/posters (e.g., Mayo Clinic evaluation of low-cost WGS on UG100; large-scale single-cell phylogenetics). While not a new instrument, the narrative underscores cost-per-genome pressure and maturing application workflows.
Element Biosciences
AVITI24 roadmap: Element reiterated the AVITI24 upgrade path: up to ~50% more data/run vs. AVITI and >30% reduction in cost per Gb, with a steady drumbeat on open access & multiomics.
Roche
SBX (Sequencing-by-Expansion) momentum: Roche showcased SBX updates and early-evaluator traction (e.g., Broad Clinical Labs) during ASHG week. Roche, with partners, claimed a <4-hour clinical genome record — illustrating a speed race parallel to the cost race.
Illumina
NovaSeq X new 25B kits & pricing (shipping since Dec 2024 / announced Jan 7, 2025):
• 25B 100-cycle (paired-end 2×50) list: $11,700
• 25B 200-cycle (paired-end 2×100) list: $14,500
These kits extend high-throughput “counting” applications and enable Illumina’s single-cell workflows at scale; Illumina highlighted them again around ASHG. GenomeWeb+2Illumina+2“2×300” on NovaSeq X: Illumina documentation shows NovaSeq X reagent kits available in 300/200/100 cycles for 25B/10B/1.5B flow cells (i.e., up to 2×150). I did not find an official ASHG-week announcement of a “new 2×300 (600-cycle) kit” for NovaSeq X. If you heard that on the floor, it may have been roadmap chatter; public docs still list up to 300 cycles (2×150). support.illumina.com
“2×500” reads: Illumina said MiSeq i100 paired 500-base (2×500) kits are going to be available in a few weeks time.
5-Base (“genome + methylome”) solution: Illumina gave more details of their 5-base workflow, combining variant calling with 5mC detection in one run.
Single-cell at 1M scale: Illumina’s Single-Cell Prep (from the Fluent acquisition) is positioned to handle 100 cells up to ~1,000,000 cells without extra microfluidics. Example datasets produced with the Broad Clinical Labs below.
Sequencing reimagined
Details of the new Illuminia 5-Base solution:
Illumina MiSeq i100 1000 cycles kit:
Expanding the kits available for NovaSeqX:
Roadmap:
Illumina going beyond the genome for deeper biological insight.
Unlocking deeper biology
Illumina Spatial Technology (ETA 2026):
Larger capture area compared to Technology V (referring to 10X Genomics Visium):
Illumina Protein Prep:
Illumina Single Cell 3’ RNA Prep Kits scaling from 100s to 1M cells in one tube. The 1M cells product is in early access.
Example 5M cells in 5 days in collaboration with Broad Clinical Labs:
Illumina sample set for 1.7M single cells in a single Perturb-seq experiment.
Strategic Positioning
I’ll describe what these announcements mean in the world of Next-Gen Sequencing and how to strategically establish a position in this new reality of NGS.